Duppa, Brian

, a learned English bishop, was born
at Lewisham in Kent, of which place his father was then
vicar. He was baptized there March 18, 1588-9, was

*

“The Greek and Latin puns to
be found in these lectures are sufficient
to show that Dr. Duport was the author
of them, for it is well known that
learned professor loved to play upon
words. He used to call his two maids
his Janissaries, because their names
were Jenny and Sarah.” Memoirs of
Literature, vol. IX. p. 156.

| educated at Westminster school, and thence elected student of Christ church, Oxford, in 1605. In 1612 he was
chosen fellow of All Souls’ college; then went into orders,
and travelled abroad; particularly into France and Spain.
In July 1625 he took the degree of doctor in divinity; and
by the interest and recommendation of the earl of Dorset,
to whom he afterwards became chaplain, was appointed
dean of Christ church, Oxford, in June 1629. In 1634
he was constituted chancellor of the church of Sarum, and
soon after made chaplain to Charles I. He was appointed,
in 1638, tutor to Charles prince of Wales, and afterwards
to his brother the duke of York; and about the same time
nominated to the bishopric of Chichester. In 1641 he was
translated to the see of Salisbury, but received no benefit
from it, on account of the suppression of episcopacy. On
this event he repaired to the king at Oxford; and, after
that city was surrendered, attended him in other places,
particularly during his imprisonment in the Isle of Wight.
He was a great favourite with his majesty; and is said by
some to have assisted him in composing the “Eikon Basilike.”

After the king’s death, he retired to Richmond in Surrey,
where he lived a solitary life till the restoration, when he
was translated to the bishopric of Winchester, and also
made lord almoner. About 1661 he began an alms-house
at Richmond, which he endowed with a farm at Shepperton, for which he gave 1540l. which now produces 115l. per
annum and though he did not live to finish it, yet it was
finished by his appointment, and at his expence. This
house is of brick, and stands on the hill above Richmond,
and took its rise from a vow made by him in the time of
the king’s exile. On the gate is this inscription; “I will
pay my vows which I made to God in my trouble.” The
bishop had a more than ordinary affection for Richmond,
not only because he had resided there several years during
the absence of the royal family, but also because he had
educated the prince in that place. He had designed some
other works of piety and charity, but was prevented by
death; for he enjoyed his new dignity little more than a
year and a half, dying at Richmond in 1662, aged seventythree. A few hours before he expired, CharlesII. honoured him with a visit; and, kneeling down by the bedside, begged his blessing; which. the bishop, with one
| hand on his majesty’s head> and the other lifted up to
heaven, gave with great zeal. He was buried in Westminster-abbey, on the north side of the Confessor’s chapel;
vfhere a large marble stone was laid over his grave, with
only these Latin words engraved upon it: “Hie jacet
Brianus Winton.”

By his will he bequeathed several sums of money to
charitable uses; particularly lands in Pembridge, in Herefordshire, which cost 250l. settled upon an alms-house
there begun by his father; 500l. to be paid to the bishop
of Sarum, to be bestowed upon an organ in that church,
or such other use as the bishop shall think fittest; 500l. to
the dean and chapter of Christ-church, in Oxford, towards
the new buildings; 200l. to be bestowed on the cathedral
church of Chichester, as the bishop and dean and chapter
shall think fit; 200l. to the cathedral church at Winchester; 40l. to the poor of Lewisham, in Kent, where
he was born; 40l. to the poor of Greenwich; 20l. to the
poor of Westham, in Sussex, and 20l. more to provide
communion-plate in that parish, if they want it, otherwise
that 20l. also to the poor; 20l. to the poor of Witham, in
Sussex; 10l. per annum for ten years to William Watts,
to encourage him to continue in his studies; 50l. a-piece
to ten widows of clergyman; 50l. a-piece to ten loyal officers not yet provided for; 200l. to All-souls’ college, in
Oxford; 300l. to the repair of St. Paul’s cathedral; and
above 3000l. in several sums to private friends and servants! so that the character given of him by Burnet, who
represents him as not having made that use of his wealth
that was expected, is not just. He wrote and published a
few pieces: as, 1. “The soul’s soliloquies, and conference
with conscience;” a sermon before Charles I. at Newport, in the Isle of Wight, on Oct. 25, being the monthly
fast, 1648, 4to. 2. “Angels rejoicing for Sinners repenting;” a sermon on Luke xv. 10, 1648, 4to. 3. “A
guide for the penitent, or, a model drawn up for the
help of a devout soul wounded with sin,” 1660, 8vo. 4.
“Holy rules and helps to devotion, both in prayer and
practice, in two parts,” 1674, 12mo, with the author’s
picture in the beginning. This was published by Benjamin
Parry, of Corpus Christi college, in Oxford. The life of
archbishop Spotsvvood is likewise said by some to have
been written by bishop Duppa but, as Wood justly
|
observes, that could not be, because it was written by a native of Scotland. 1

1

Biog. Brit. Lysons’s Environs, vol. I. and IV. —Ath. Ox. vol. II. Usher’s
Life and Letters, p. 579. Lloyd’s Memoirs, fol. 598. Barwic-k’s Life see
Index. In 1764 died Baldwin Duppa, esq. at Hullingburne, in Kent, who was
said be the last of the bishop’s family.

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